Residents decry spending of Country Club Hills aldermen

$9,000-a-year expense accounts come under attack after Tribune story

Frustrated with recent reports about their highly paid mayor and City Council, several dozen Country Club Hills residents packed this week's regular meeting to vent about the expenses.

One resident, April Griffith, came armed with a sheaf of papers she said she had acquired by filing Freedom of Information Act requests, saying the aldermen's individual $9,000-a-year expense accounts are too high.

Monday's meeting was held less than a week after publication of a Tribune investigation that found the council's expense accounts, salaries and other extras come in at a little less than $500,000, or about $30 per resident, per year.

"I'm tired of looking at the news and being embarrassed," said resident Joeann Logan, who claimed similar behavior would not be tolerated in surrounding suburbs.

According to the Tribune investigation, the financial package for Country Club Hills aldermen is much more generous than what other elected officials receive in similarly sized suburbs.

Longtime resident James J. Craig Jr., meanwhile, told the council he wants the name of the outlet mall developer who reportedly dined with Ald. Steven Burris on Christmas Eve. Burris chalked up the cost of the meal to economic development and then charged it to his expense account.

"Put it in the newspaper or resign," demanded Craig, who was among 60 residents who turned out for the meeting.

Craig contrasted Burris' dinner with the actions of Mayor Dwight Welch, whose credit card was taken away by the City Council after WGN-TV reported in June that Welch was spending tens of thousands of dollars on meals, gifts and other items via his city credit card.

"The mayor was taking people out for business reasons," Craig said.

Another longtime resident, Ralph Tolbert, told the aldermen they are "doing primarily a good job with your expense accounts" but was concerned that two council members had charged the city nearly $100 in expenses related to attending a political fundraiser for the mayor of Cicero.

"The taxpayers should not have to pay money to support politicians they do not support personally," Tolbert said.

Closer to home, Craig blasted municipal staffing cuts that included the city's inspector general and four police commanders.

"Why are you taking away the police?" he asked. "It needs to stop."

Ivan Jackson Sr., a resident of the village for 18 years, said the way the city is being run since the layoffs has left him "very disturbed" and "very dispirited."